The Ballad of Greyfriars Bobby - The Real McKenzies

John Gray was a gardener

Who, with his wife and bairn

Arrived in Edinburgh

The century was nearly turned

The year was 1800

That year was harsh and cold

He could nae find nae work

Their future so unsure

To avoid the workhouse

And for his family

He joined the police force

A constable was he

A condition of his service

He had to take a dog

To watch by his side

He chose a terrier frae sky

This is the balla of Greyfriars Bobby

The dog with whom his master

He would stay

No pain of fear

For 14 long years

He stood by his master’s grave

(And he’s still standing there today)

Succumbing to his fate

In 1858

Johnny Gray passed away

Laid down in Greyfriars Churchyards

No marker on his grave

His faithful terrier stayed there

He would not go away

The groundskeeper was told

The dog must be a lout

The Greyfriars parish told him

To keep that rascal out

But Bobby so devoted to his master after death

The people fed and sheltered him

And idoled him instead

Now Bobby and his

Master stand together

Though they’re dead

Their bonds, as they say

Reaches far beyond the grave

So now you know the story

If anybody asks you

You tell em of the Statue

That’s in Edinburgh today